Los Angeles, May 12, 2009: ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) honored the composers and songwriters of the top box office film music and the most performed television music of 2008 at its 24th annual Film and Television Music Awards gala, held May 11th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, California.

A highlight of the event was the presentation of ASCAP's Henry Mancini Award to composer Carter Burwell in recognition of his outstanding achievements and contributions to the world of film music. Burwell has scored many of the most emblematic films of the past 25 years, working with such innovative directors as Todd Haynes ("Velvet Goldmine"), David Mamet ("The Spanish Prisoner"), Spike Jonze ("Being John Malkovich," "Adaptation"), John Lee Hancock ("The Alamo," "The Rookie"), and, especially Joel and Ethan Coen, the team he has been most identified with since "Blood Simple" in 1984, the first feature film for all three.

To mark this special occasion, the Coen Brothers, Jonze and Hancock sent congratulatory video messages, and directors Bill Condon ("Gods and Monsters," 'Kinsey") and Catherine Hardwicke ("Twilight") co-presented the award to Burwell along with ASCAP President and Chairman Paul Williamsand ASCAP CEO John LoFrumento. Burwell also received an award in the Top Box Office Films category for his score to Hardwicke's vampire romance "Twilight."

ASCAP Board members Richard Bellis, Bruce Broughton and Dan Foliart, and ASCAP executives Randall Grimmett, Nancy Knutsen, Shawn LeMone, Sue Devine, and Mike Todd presented awards to the composers and songwriters of the most performed film and television music of 2008.

ASCAP composers and songwriters whose combined works earned the highest number of performance credits on network, local, and cable television in the category of themes and dramatic underscore for the 2008 survey year were Joel Beckerman, Jeff Cardoni, Matthew Gerrard, John Keane, Jeff Lippencott, Robbie Nevil, David Vanacore, Mark T Williams, and Adam Zelkind.

Two huge Disney films - "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" and "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert" – were filled with music written by ASCAP composers and songwriters. Honorees for "High School Musical" included David Lawrence who provided the score, and Adam Anders, Nikki Hassman, Theodore Thomas, Theron Thomas, andTimothy Thomas who contributed songs for the third installment of the successful film franchise. Those honored for "Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus" were Michael Bradford, Scott Cutler, Tamara Dunn, Ken Hauptman, Jay Landers, Jeannie Lurie, Holly Mathis, Steve Robson, and Matthew Wilder. And, those receiving awards for their musical contributions to both films were Antonina Armato, Andrew Dodd, Matthew Gerrard, Jamie Houston, Robbie Nevil, and Adam Watts.

About ASCAP
Established in 1914, ASCAP is the first and leading U.S. Performing Rights Organization (PRO) representing the world's largest repertory totaling over 8.5 million copyrighted musical works of every style and genre from more than 350,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members. ASCAP has representation arrangements with similar foreign organizations so that the ASCAP repertory is represented in nearly every country around the world where copyright law exists. ASCAP protects the rights of its members and foreign affiliates by licensing the public performances of their copyrighted works and distributing royalties based upon surveyed performances. ASCAP is the only American PRO owned and governed by its writer and publisher members. www.ascap.com